JERUSALEM — In a bold defense of Israel, Vice President Dick Cheney said Saturday that the United States wants a new beginning for the Palestinian people but will never pressure Israel to take steps that would jeopardize its security.

Cheney, on an Easter weekend visit to Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to establishing a Palestinian state — a feat he said would require painful concessions on both sides.

“America’s commitment to Israel’s security is enduring and unshakable, as is our commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself — always — against terrorism, rocket attacks and other threats from forces dedicated to Israel’s destruction,” Cheney said, standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. “The United States will never pressure Israel to take steps that threaten its security.”

After attending a worship service and holding talks with other Israeli leaders, Cheney will travel today to Ramallah in the West Bank to meet with Palestinian

President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

“We want to see a resolution to the conflict and an end to the terrorism that has caused so much grief to Israelis and a new beginning for the Palestinian people,” Cheney said.

Cheney also said that as the U.S. and Israel worked on a Mideast peace deal, they must not take their eyes off Iran and other adversaries in the region. Israel considers Iran the greatest threat to its survival; it rejects Tehran’s claims that its nuclear program is not designed to produce arms.

Back in 2005, Cheney raised the possibility that Israel was convinced that Iran had significant nuclear capability. “The Israelis might well decide to act first, and let the rest of the world worry about cleaning up the diplomatic mess afterward,” he said.

At the Israeli prime minister’s residence, his first stop after landing in Israel, Cheney said, “We must not, and will not, ignore the darkening shadows of the situations in Gaza, in Lebanon, in Syria and in Iran and the forces there that are working to derail the hopes of the world.”

Olmert also mentioned Iran when he listed the agenda for his talks with Cheney. In fact, Olmert mentioned Iran ahead of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

“We are both very concerned about Iran,” Olmert said. “We are anxious to carry on the peace negotiations with the Palestinians.”

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